Livelihood from raising deer for velvet antlers

Ms. Hoang Thi Han, Group 29, Ha Giang 1 Ward, develops her economy from raising spotted deer.

Sustainable direction

Ms. Hoang Thi Han's family, group 29, Ha Giang 1 ward, is a pioneer in raising sika deer for velvet. Starting in 2021, her family boldly invested over 100 million VND to buy 5 breeding animals.

Ms. Han shared: “Compared to pig or chicken farming, sika deer are less susceptible to diseases, but to achieve high efficiency, attention must be paid to the barn and food source. Deer barns are lined with rice husks and sawdust to prevent moisture and keep dry and airy; in the cold season, they are surrounded by tarpaulin to keep warm. Food sources include grass, neem leaves, jackfruit leaves, corn kernels... harvested naturally or purchased from quality-assured establishments.”

After several years of perseverance, Ms. Han's deer farming model has proven to be effective, with an average income of more than 80 million VND per year. Currently, her farm has 8 pairs of deer, both for antler harvesting and breeding. From that success, Ms. Han actively shares her experience with people, helping many households invest in new livestock development directions.

Sika deer are gentle, easy to raise and have good adaptability. According to Ms. Han, female deer only give birth to one litter per year, each litter has one calf, so the herd multiplication is slow but stable. Meanwhile, male deer have high economic value thanks to deer antler products. On average, each year, a male deer can harvest antlers worth from 17 to 20 million VND. In particular, the older the deer, the more antlers can be exploited, each deer can produce antlers regularly for 10 years or more. In addition to antler exploitation, healthy male deer are also kept for breeding, helping to maintain and expand the herd.

Linking production of goods

Seeing the economic potential of Ms. Han's model, in early March this year, Mr. Nguyen Van Cu, Group 34, Ha Giang 1 Ward, also invested 96 million VND to buy 5 sika deer from a farm in Tan Ha Ward. Mr. Cuu said: "Seeing households raising deer sharing that deer are easy to raise, have few diseases, and have a rich food source from grass, corn, bananas and resinous leaves, my family decided to try. What's special is that the locality has a stable connection to consume deer antlers, helping us feel secure in developing livestock farming."

The sika deer farming model not only increases income for households but also opens up a direction for collective economic development, connecting breeders with the consumer market. In 2024, the Phuong Do sika deer farming professional group was officially established, gathering 10 members with a total herd of nearly 60 animals. This is where households exchange experiences, provide technical support, and coordinate in product consumption, increasing the value of deer antlers - one of the local specialties with high value.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dang, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Ha Giang Ward 1, said: “The deer breeding model is a clear demonstration of the dynamism and creativity of the people in finding new directions for rural economic development. The local government always accompanies and supports the people in terms of techniques, breeds, as well as connecting the product consumption market through cooperatives. This is a suitable direction, helping to increase income and improve people's lives.”

The initial results of the spotted deer farming model have confirmed the great potential in diversifying rural industries. Expanding the model not only contributes to increasing income for people but also helps to effectively exploit land resources, take advantage of agricultural by-products, form a closed economic value chain, and move towards sustainable poverty reduction for local people.

Article and photos: Khanh Huyen

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/kinh-te/202511/sinh-ke-tu-nuoi-huou-lay-nhung-bde6856/